Click the pic to download the Mini Apocalypse album and up the terror!

The game components may be tiny but they have the power to make or break you.

The game tin

As the fallout shelter (FoS), the game tin is a component itself.

Made of steel, it fits the rugged doomsday apocalyptic theme. In keeping with the maker-to-player philosophy, we emboss the tins ourselves; we designed a pair of embossing plates and had them 3D-printed in stainless steel and use an arbor press.

The result: A super tiny game box tough enough for doomsday preppers and unique enough for avid gamers.

The dice

You might think you’re in charge, but no matter how much strategy you have, luck always plays a part in your survival. Chaos and unpredictability oppose you at every turn. This is, after all, the apocalypse!

When you use dice head-to-head like this, it's no longer just luck—there are 1,876 books on Craps—a two-dice game! Dice are often a random event mechanic in games, here they're your resources.

The manhole cover

At the last minute, a manhole cover was added as an expansion—the Manhole Expansion!

Ready for more high-pressure strategy? With the Manhole Expansion, the monster's after you the moment you claim the manhole cover.

Why would anyone do that?To pressure their opponent!

The little solid brass manhole cover is a minted coin—not cast—so rest easy, it will survive many apocalypses.

The instructions

The game tin isn't the only rugged thing. Game instructions are printed on REVLAR paper—a waterproof and tear-resistant paper used for geocaching and extreme outdoor maps. Since everything's dumped out for each game, the instructions have to be tougher than that non-apocalyptic glossy paper.

. . . freakin' amazing! You're totally engaged. Like an actual mini apocalypse happening on the table.
Your strategy has to change based on what the other player's doing. A ton of replayability and a ton of fun.NVS Gameplays

How do I arrange the pieces in the box? Try this:

The backstory

It’s a nice day in Meepleton. You and your friends are enjoying the day without a care in the world . . .

Once two or more of your team members make it inside the shelter, send out a reconnaissance pair to grab a box of supplies. One box is plenty and it doesn’t matter who grabs it. But the monster spots you once you do—so you gotta be fast!

The shelter holds a max of 7 and it takes 4 from the same team to pull the door closed.

Do what you must to survive. If you’re standing outside, knock down an opponent and make them scramble to their feet again. If you’re in the shelter, shove them out and make room for your team.

Once the fallout shelter is closed, it sucks to be outside!

But wait! It might not be over if you spot a manhole cover. Grab it and knock the monster down or use it to pry open the fallout shelter. If you grab the cover before you secure the box of supplies, the nefarious monster will surely notice you. Don't waste time and be careful!

Looks like the apocalypse is here!

I find myself thinking about what I might do next time. You get engrossed in the race to the shelter, especially if you dial up the monster.When I want a short game, a small footprint, and fun, this is a game I'll be reaching into my pocket for.Roger's Reviews on BoardGameGeek

Game rules - setup & play

Dump out the game tin and choose a color. Place 4 of your meeps laying down and 1 standing on your side of tin. The game tin is the Fallout Shelter (FoS).

Grab the matching dice.

Stand the green monster a few inches from FoS with the green die behind it with the 6 facing up.Note: Kate and I like to start the monster on 4.

Place 2 white supply boxes between the FoS and the nefarious monster.

Game play

Get your meeps to their feet, stay on yours, secure the FoS (Fallout Shelter), get 1 supply box, and close the FoS!

Your actions are on your rolled 7s and you need 1 standing meep to help your meeps or to knock down others.

FoS holds a maximum of 7 meeps.

Start the game and roll your dice. The standard game is simultaneous rolling, not turn-based. However, you can play turn-based if you prefer.

On a roll of a 7 you can:

Stand up 1 meep

Help 1 standing meep into FoS

Knock down 1 standing opponent

Toss 1 opponent out of FoS (you need 1 in) BUT place them standing up outside FoS

Send out a RECON PAIR of your meeps from the FoS to get 1 supply box

Stand up 1 knocked down meep of your RECON PAIR

Knock down 1 meep in your opponent's RECON PAIR

Drag 1 supply box into FoS with both of your standing RECON PAIR

Close the FoS with at least 4 of your meeps and 1 supply box inside for the WIN!

Only 1 supply box is needed in the FoS—it doesn't matter who brought it in.

Close the FoS with at least 4 of your team in with at least one supply cube, all before the monster eats everyone, and survive!

What about the monster?

There are 3 game modes—decide before start: UH-OH, OMG, or CRA-CRA!

UH-OH activates monster's die when supply box gets into the FoS. This is standard play.

Once activated, the player rolling doubles of monster die’s face-up number turns monster die down one. A double 6 turns the monster die down to 5, a double 5 turns it down to 4, and so on.

When the monster die is on 1, a roll of snake eyes (double 1s) by either player ends the game. The monster gets in FoS and eats you!

BUT . . . either player can be a hero by tossing 1 of their standing meeps onto monster die!

That meep is forever gone (but never forgotten). The next snake eyes ends the game unless another meep jumps on monster die.

Sacrificing a meep doesn’t need a roll of 7 and can be done with a meep from inside or outside of the FoS, but only when monster's die is on 1.

The one who rolls the snake eyes calls out yes or no if they are sacrificing a meep; if they call out no, then the opponent has one chance to say yes or no; if the opponent says no, then the roller of the snake eyes has one last chance to sacrifice one of their meeps.

If that's a no and no one sacrificed a meep, then the monster wins! And you both lose.

OMG mode activates monster die as soon as the game starts. This is a faster game and it sucks to be human.

CRA-CRA allows either player to activate and turn down monster die by using any of their rolled 7s, in addition to the normal turn down on matching doubles.

Dial the difficulty—is the game too easy? Set the monster die on 5, 4, or lower!

Endgame scoring

This Euro-style scoring is for both tournament play and friends who want to keep a running total—the optional mini journal can record each kind of scoring.

4 POINTS - Humanity’s Hope
FoS is closed with 1 supply box and all 5 your meeps in OR 1 supply box with 4 of your meeps in and 1 meep sacrificed on the monster die.

3 POINTS - Survivor
FoS is closed with 1 supply box and 4 of your meeps in. This is the fastest win.

2 POINTS - Selfless Hero
Rather than simply lose, you help your opponent win and save humanity by jumping on monster die.

1 POINT - Sux2BUYou lose and made no sacrifices. The monster eats you and your opponent wins. But at least humanity lives on!

Manhole Expansion rules - setup & play

Note: Play the game a few times without the Manhole Expansion to get a feel for strategy and tactics.

Game setup

Place the manhole cover behind monster with the SEWER side facing up.

Game play

The manhole cover can be used to knock monster down OR to open the closed FoS.

On a 7 you can:

Claim the manhole cover by standing 1 meep on it

Push an opponent off the manhole cover to claim cover (place them standing)

Throw the claimed manhole cover to knock down the monster

Throw the claimed manhole cover to pry open the closed FoS lid and continue the game

Claiming the manhole cover activates the monster if not yet activated.

The manhole cover can only be thrown once. UPDATE Below!

If monster is knocked down, a roll of doubles of the monster's die stands the monster back up but doesn’t turn the monster die down. Another roll of the monster die's double continues the countdown.

The monster keeps rolling down as in normal play.

No banking of rolled 7s—you can’t roll and hold a 7.

Both of you keep rolling if the FoS is reopened.

Once lid is reclosed, it’s only a matter of time before monster eats any outsiders, so Game Over.

Update: After discussions on BoardGameGeek, there's no reason to limit the use of the manhole cover to once. If this game mimics real life, you could use it as many times as you like—simply reclaim it with 7 and rethrow with another 7. While throwing the manhole cover multiple times extends the game, the monster will eventually end it. Feel free to call this rule anyway you like—it's your game. =)

Expect total chaos and maybe even tales of noble sacrifice, as players can feed their meeples to slow the monster, and gain respect points even if they don’t get into the shelter. -Creaking Shelves

Save the VIP! variant by Lee T.

One of your meeples is a VIP and should be marked in some way to indicate this. The VIP meeple moves the same but can't pick up the supplies. However, if your VIP survives you get a bonus point for saving them.

There's extra strategy around when to move your VIP in and when/whether to kick the opponent's VIP out.

The VIP adds a bit of a twist because of its limited ability.

Alisa's learning to count variant by Jeroen

Alisa is learning her numbers and her dad, being an awesome tabletop gamer like all tabletop parents, made his own variant that she loves.

Here's what you need to play:

all meeples

monster

Fallout Shelter (FoS)

one pair of dice

Set up the game with all meeples standing outside of the FoS and the misunderstood monster lurking about.

This variant is guided solo play and you move one meeple into the FoS when the number showing on the pair of rolled dice is equal to the number of meeples outside of the FoS.

When you have 6 or less meeples outside of the FoS, put one die aside and roll only one. Keep moving meeples in when the die roll matches the number still outside.

When the last meeple is moved in on a roll of 1, close the lid, and place the monster standing on the tin.

Everyone is safe and the monster is out of luck. This is a great way to learn to count! Have fun! =)